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Parent FAQ

Q. What is the school's most basic expectation of parents?

A. Make continuing efforts both to understand and to embrace the Montessori approach and to work in partnership with the school. Children thrive when home and school work in harmony, with both environments sharing the same educational values and expectations.

Q: What contribution can I make to create a positive school community?

A: Demonstrate respect for all adults and children, the school, and the school's programs. Model for your children to respect their classmates, parents of classmates, teachers and other school staff – in short, to everyone associated with the school. Through your behavior you contribute to your children's moral development and to the culture and climate of their school, which they experience on a daily basis.

Q: How can I create consistency between home and school?

A: Strive to parent according to Montessori principles. Children develop a love of learning and become responsible, independent and capable when parents' values and expectations are consistent with those of the school.

Q: What are my responsibilities regarding communication between home and school?

A: Maintain active, direct and respectful, two-way communication with the school. Read communications that are sent home, including letters, newsletters and calendars!

Q: What can I expect of the school academically?

A: MSS aspires to fulfill its mission as a Montessori school.

As a Montessori school, we are different from traditional schools. Our first commitment is to the multi-dimensional development of the child. Montessori children do amass a great deal of factual knowledge in school. However, our aim is for each child to be far more than a repository of this information. We guide each child to think and understand by himself. Cognitive development and a solid academic foundation are important, yet they represent only one dimension of our aspirations for your child. Equally significant is your child's social, emotional, spiritual and physical development.

We treat each child with dignity and respect, and expect that she will treat all others with the same respect. We treat each child as an individual and strive to develop each child's unique gifts – within the context of the classroom and the school community. With freedom comes responsibility, and each child learns to balance his personal freedom with a clear sense of responsibility to himself, to others and to the community as a whole.

Q: What can I expect in terms of communication from the school?

A: We aim to maintain open, honest, timely, and respectful communication with you about your child and about information affecting the school community. Twice yearly parent teacher conferences are scheduled to keep you informed of your child’s development. Newsletters and Progress Reports are sent home via email. Teachers are available for consultations by making an appointment before 8:00 am or after 4:00 pm.

Q: What can I expect of the school environment?

A: We strive to ensure an environment that is physically and emotionally safe and supportive, as well as aesthetically beautiful.

Q: What can I expect of the school administration?

A: Integrity; a focus on the needs of the individual child in harmony with the life of the community; mission-driven decisions embodying good stewardship and responsible management; and an open door to your questions or concerns.

The Head of School, Directors, Business Manager and support staffs comprise the administration. They often face decisions requiring a balance of competing priorities. Sometimes those factors are mutually exclusive; sometimes equally well-intentioned adults see matters differently. In making decisions, administration will focus on the interest of the individual child in balance with the needs of the school.